Twelfth Night | Gunsmoke (12-28-57)

Summary

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Gunsmoke: "Twelfth Night" (Original Air Date: 12-28-1957)

Podcast: Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Summary by: Podcast Summarizer

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Episode Overview

This digitally restored classic radio episode of Gunsmoke, titled "Twelfth Night," centers on Marshal Matt Dillon attempting to prevent an age-old Ozark family feud from spilling blood in Dodge City. Set during the Christmas season, the episode explores themes of tradition, stubbornness, and the search for peace, with a surprising and heartwarming twist that brings enemies together on the eve of their own rural holiday—Twelfth Night.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Feud Comes to Dodge City

• Introduction of the Feud:

  • Eben Hakes, a tall, wiry mountain man from the Ozarks, arrives in Dodge City with one goal: to find (and presumably kill) his family's old rival, Joth Monger.
  • There’s deep history here; both men are the last of their respective families, the feud dating back generations.

• Cultural Clashes:

  • Hakes is depicted as out of place in Dodge, carrying a long rifle and a coonskin hat, which draws the attention of Marshal Dillon, Doc, Chester, and Kitty.
  • The lawmen quickly identify the danger: “You come a long way to see your friends, haven't you Hakes?” (Matt Dillon, 07:48)

• Notable Quote:

  • Eben Hakes, primed for violence, explains his rigid code:

    "I won't kill no man of a Sunday. Never have and I never will."
    (Eben Hakes, 08:18)

2. Attempts at Mediation

• Visiting the Mongers:

  • Dillon and Chester visit the Monger farm. Ms. Monger is weary, fiercely independent, and suspicious of outsiders.
  • She reveals the two men are the sole survivors of their feud:

    “Both families have been twiddled down to just them two.”
    (Ms. Monger, 12:16)

• Marshal Dillon’s Warning:

  • Dillon tries to impress the legal consequences on Ms. Monger:

    “Look, Ms. Munger, the law doesn't hold with Feudin'. Whichever one kills the other, he'll hang for it.”
    (Matt Dillon, 13:13)

  • Despite his warnings, both sides are fatalistic about their traditions.

3. The Confrontation (Dodge City, Saturday Night)

• At the Saloon:

  • Marshal Dillon and Chester learn from Kitty that Joth Monger comes to town every Saturday night to drink alone.
  • As predicted, Eben confronts Joth at closing time—rifle drawn, ready to end the feud.
  • Tension peaks as Eben, rifle raised, faces Joth. Dillon stands between them:

    “You're standing in the way, peace officer.”
    (Eben Hakes, 17:49)

• Twist of Fate—Timing as Salvation:

  • As tempers flare, Marshal Dillon calmly observes:

    “It's after midnight, Hakes.”
    (Matt Dillon, 18:08)

  • Eben realizes it’s now Sunday—his code forbids violence on the Sabbath. The moment passes, and, surprisingly, the two old enemies begin to talk and begrudgingly share a drink.

• Notable Moment:

  • Eben, regretfully:

    "It's a doggone shame it took me so long to find you today… But I got tired waiting for you to come back home."
    (Eben Hakes, 18:33)

4. Resolution and Reconciliation

• Unexpected Friendship:

  • Next morning, Matt Dillon and Chester search for the two men, worried about their renewed rivalry.
  • At the Monger place, they find Joth, Eben, and Ms. Monger sharing a meal—rifles at rest.

• Peace Explained:

  • The men reveal they've ended the feud after reminiscing about their shared history and ancestors—realizing, in a twist of fate, they are almost family.
  • Eben explains:

    “If my grandpa hadn't done that, then Jaws here would have been me.”
    (Eben Hakes, 25:51)

• Tradition—Twelfth Night in the Ozarks:

  • The group plans to celebrate Christmas Ozark-style: on January 6th, Twelfth Night.
  • Ms. Monger proudly invites the Marshal and Chester:

    "If you only knew, Marshal. It works just fine for us."
    (Ms. Monger, 26:47)

• Food and Hospitality:

  • Talk of traditional food (chitlins, pickles, cornbread, coffee) highlights rural customs and humor:

    “Well now woman, ain't there gonna be no chitlins?”
    (Eben Hakes, 27:08)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Feuds and Family:

  “This here feud started a long time ago… my grandpa stole Jaws's grandpa's girl... So Jaws’s grandpa declared a feud right then and there.”
  (Eben Hakes, 25:23)

• Reflection on Past and Peace:

  "Otherwise, my grandma would have married up with Jaw's grandpa and I'd a been Joss. So any way you look at it, we're kind of related."
  (Eben Hakes, 25:51)

• Matt Dillon on Law and Feuds:

  "The law doesn't hold with feudin'. Whichever one kills the other, he'll hang for it."
  (Matt Dillon, 13:13)

• Chester’s Rural Wisdom:

  “Them hill people all like that, Mr. Jones?”
  (Chester, 13:35)

• The Power of Custom:

  “Back in the Ozarks, we do our Christmas celebrating 12 days from when you do.”
  (Eben Hakes, 26:35)

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Eben Hakes Arrives in Dodge: 07:00–08:22
• Backstory on the Feud and Family: 12:00–13:19
• Feud Confrontation & Sabbath Code: 17:03–18:10
• Morning After—Feud Resolved: 25:04–27:23
• Explaining Twelfth Night Celebration: 26:19–27:23

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Tone & Style

The episode is rich with dry wit, understated rural humor, and the steady, sage authority of Marshal Matt Dillon. The language reflects the idioms and rhythms of the Ozarks, blending earnestness, stubborn custom, and unexpected warmth.

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Conclusion

“Twelfth Night” stands out as a lighthearted Gunsmoke episode with a surprising, conciliatory ending that subverts Western tropes about violence and grudges. The story cleverly pivots on old customs—the Sabbath, rural feasting, and the unique timing of Christmas in the Ozarks—to turn would-be enemies into partners. The Marshal’s respect for tradition and humanity helps foster not just law and order, but real, lasting peace.

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For those interested in Western drama, rural Americana, and the power of forgiveness, this episode is both engaging and heartwarming—a true holiday treat on the prairie.

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Transcript

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[Andrew Rines]

Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This episode is one of many released every month, totaling over 80 episodes so far. Each one is meticulously digitally restored and stored in the cloud for your convenience, a process that incurs costs. To help cover these expenses, you might hear some advertisements throughout the episode. While we do retain the original commercials for historical authenticity, you may also encounter modern ads which help keep the lights on. If you prefer an ad free experience, we offer a couple options. You can you can listen to the episodes on YouTube where they don't include the audio ads, although YouTube may provide their own ads on their platform. Alternatively, you can also support us by becoming a patron on our Patreon page. For more information, go to otrwesterns.com donate again otrwesterns.com donate I do want to emphasize that we are committed to providing this content to you for free. But also we have to be transparent about the financial realities to bringing this to you. To those of you who are already supporting us, we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your contributions make it possible for us to continue doing what we love. And as a final note, I did want to mention one last thing. If you are paying for a service, let's say like audible and you're listening to this show on that site, they do not provide any financial or monetary means to this podcast. We provide it to them as a way for you to be able to listen, but they don't help us in any way. So again, thank you to everybody who's already supporting and those of you who want to support us in the future. I deeply appreciate it. Now let's get into this episode. This episode is going to be Gunsmoke. Original air date is December 28, 1957 and and the title is Twelfth Night. Let's get into it and I hope you enjoy.

[Narrator]

Around Dodge City and in the territory on west there's just one way to handle the killers and the spoilers and that's with a U.S. marshal. And the smell of gun smoke. Gun smoke. Starring William Conrad. The story of the violence that moved west with young America. And the story of a man who moved with it.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm that man. Matt Dillon, United States Marshal. The first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job and it makes a man watchful and a little lonely.

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[Narrator]

The incident occurred in a Korean prisoner of war camp. The names of the men are not available, but the action should be noted. In one group, two men were exchanging food for cigarettes. The food was pork. It didn't taste very good and the man giving it up preferred the cigarettes. What he didn't know was that pork in his system now would help him get through the winter. The exchange was reported to the senior officer, an army major, who took over and issued an order to the effect that there would be no more exchanges of luxuries for food. The major knew he would suffer for his action, but he felt that it was in the best interests of all concerned and suffer he did, for he was placed in solitary confinement for issuing the order. But by his action, this army major had exemplified Article 4 of the American Fighting Man's Code of conduct. If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information nor take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.

[Matt Dillon]

Morning, Doc.

[Narrator]

Chester.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Morning.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Come have some coffee with us, man, you've got nothing to do in your office.

[Matt Dillon]

No, but in there, people can't see me doing it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

There's no use to hide. They're on here anyway.

[Matt Dillon]

You know, the Christmas season hasn't made you any more charitable, huh, Doc?

[Chester Proudfoot]

And I'm not a man to be good on Sunday and sin all week.

[Narrator]

All. That's what you mean.

[Matt Dillon]

You're honest if nothing else.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Of course I'm honest. Hey, look, look, look. Yonder at that fella. What fellas? Across the street there.

[Kitty]

That coonskin hat.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, you mean that.

[Kitty]

Well, I never did.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Now that's the tallest man I ever saw. And that rifle he's carrying. As long as he is, he sure does look out of place in dodge, don't.

[Matt Dillon]

He Is out of place. Char, that's a squirrel hunting southern mountain man.

[Narrator]

Well, he's coming over here.

[Chester Proudfoot]

At least he ain't another gunman. Mr. John.

[Matt Dillon]

That's something to be thankful for.

[Narrator]

Hi. Howdy.

[Matt Dillon]

Hello.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Which of you be the.

[Matt Dillon]

What you call them the marshal?

[Chester Proudfoot]

That's the word. I never heard it till a fella told me this morning.

[Matt Dillon]

Why, just a peace officer, sir.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I'm again peace officer. It ain't fitting for some folks to be meddling in other folks business. Well, what do they figure it like that stranger in Ozark Mountains. Better country than this. And my name is Eben Hakes.

[Matt Dillon]

My name is Dylan Hakes. This is Chester Proudfoot and this is Doc Adam.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Peace officer. A man said you'd help me find where that Joth Monger is living.

[Narrator]

Jos? Monger?

[Chester Proudfoot]

He come out here about a year ago. He's got old mountain gal with him.

[Matt Dillon]

They got a place up near rock Springs, about 10 miles north of here.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I'll find it.

[Matt Dillon]

You come a long way to see your friends, haven't you Higgs?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Joss Monger ain't exactly a friend piece, officer. Well, I gotta get going. It's the insanity. You know what's being Saturday got to do with it? Nothing. Except I won't kill no man of a Sunday. Never have and I never will.

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[Narrator]

Let's take a moment to think of the world we live in, of just how small it really is. With modern transportation, traveling to almost any place in the world is only a matter of hours. Now, let's say that you're about to be stationed for the first time in the Panama Canal Zone. Once there, you'll find the Republic of Panama more intimately associated with the United States than any other country. You'll also find that nowhere abroad will you get in closer contact with the United States. North Americans have lived in the Canal Zone ever since it was acquired in May 1904. And you'll find thousands of your fellow countrymen, soldiers, sailors and civilians living and working in the Zone, much as they would at home. Why would you be stationed here? It would be to help protect one of the greatest engineering feats in history, the Panama Canal, which was finally dug and completed by the United States army engineers and Open to Navigation August 15, 1914, ten years after our engineers took over the actual digging of the big ditch at a total cost of $380 million. Now, here is why the canal is so important. This narrow gateway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is kept open and maintained so that our navy and merchant ships can pass quickly from ocean to ocean. This is a tremendous saving of time and money. Ships plowing the ocean waters between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States save 8,000 miles by going through the canal, instead of around the southern tip of South America, where, incidentally, there's some of the world's worst weather. Here's another thought to keep in mind. Whenever you leave the Canal Zone and enter Panama proper, you are under the laws and customs of Panama, not those of the United States. So respect these laws and customs to maintain the people's friendship. For remember, the only way to have a friend is to be one.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Josh Monger. Place don't look no better than it ever did, does it?

[Matt Dillon]

Not much.

[Chester Proudfoot]

And just look at that poor Miss Monger. Out doing chores as usual.

[Matt Dillon]

I wonder where Josh is.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Sleep somewhere?

[Narrator]

Probably.

[Matt Dillon]

Morning, Ms. Monger.

[Kitty]

Hey.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Hi, ma'.

[Narrator]

Am.

[Kitty]

Poorly.

[Matt Dillon]

Is Jo here?

[Narrator]

Ma'? Am.

[Kitty]

Today wasn't Saturday, he'd be here. Why, Jopp heels into Dodge every Saturday.

[Matt Dillon]

He does? I never see him.

[Kitty]

He socialized more.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You'd see him.

[Kitty]

Joff's got his ways, Marshall. They're lonesome, but they're hisn't.

[Matt Dillon]

I see. Ms. Monger, do you know a man called Eben Hakes?

[Kitty]

Hakes you speak that name around here, you won't be welcome.

[Matt Dillon]

Marshal, is there trouble between you?

[Kitty]

You call Joth being the only monger left and even being the only Hakes left, Then you could say there's trouble.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, yeah. I mean, it's a feud.

[Kitty]

Both families have been twiddled down to just them too.

[Andrew Rines]

I see.

[Matt Dillon]

Is that why Joff came out to Kansas? To get away from it?

[Kitty]

Not if he's always talking about going back long enough to kill Eben Hake.

[Matt Dillon]

What do you think, man? Don't you think it's gone far enough?

[Kitty]

Either one of them could call it off if they wasn't some Yuli.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, how'd this feud start?

[Narrator]

Ma'?

[Kitty]

Am, if you had any bringing up, you wouldn't ask.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, my. I'm sorry.

[Kitty]

It's a family matter. Where'd you see even Hakes, anyway?

[Matt Dillon]

He was in Dodge asking about Job.

[Kitty]

He was asking and he'll find him. And that's bad. Josh don't even know he's around.

[Matt Dillon]

That's why I came out here, man.

[Kitty]

If Josh knew about him, I wouldn't worry. Jopp's better shot than he been Hague's any day.

[Matt Dillon]

Look, Ms. Munger, the law doesn't hold with Feudin. Whichever one kills the other, he'll hang for it.

[Kitty]

You start meddling, they'll shoot you. But I'm worried about Jopp. He'll be drunk soon as it's dark.

[Matt Dillon]

I'll find him then. Now, goodbye.

[Narrator]

Bye. My land.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Them hill people all like that. Mr. Jones.

[Matt Dillon]

Mighty independent.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, ah.

[Narrator]

Sure don't seem to mean much.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Who does it?

[Matt Dillon]

Not when it comes to feuding with us. Chester, look over there. What, that little bluff?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, forever more.

[Narrator]

How'd he get here? I don't see no horse.

[Matt Dillon]

Let's go ask him. Hello, Hicks.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Is that Joss Monger's place yonder?

[Matt Dillon]

Huh?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Good. I'll get a little closer and shoot him when he comes out.

[Matt Dillon]

You don't care whether you hang or not, do you?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Hang?

[Matt Dillon]

You're shooting a monger or shooting anybody. You ever hear of murder?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Peace Officer? You're getting downright contrary.

[Matt Dillon]

Where's your horse?

[Chester Proudfoot]

I don't need no horse to travel by.

[Matt Dillon]

You mean you walked all the way from the Ozarks?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, it's mostly downhill, Peace, Officer. But I'd walk anywheres to get me a monger.

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe I ought to throw you in jail.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Now you are being meddlesome. But I gotta get closer to that house. And don't you fret nothing about the old Lady, I don't aim to shoot her. You're gonna let Higgs wait here and shoot Joff?

[Matt Dillon]

I'll let him go. Chester. Let's get back to Dodge. We can find Joff and warn him.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Maybe you ought to just let them shoot each other and have done with it.

[Matt Dillon]

Don't tempt me, Chester. Go ask Sam if he's seen Jock, will you, Chester?

[Narrator]

All right.

[Matt Dillon]

Evening, Kitty.

[Kitty]

Hello, Matt. Where you been? Pretty near midnight.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, I've been trying to stop a feud, Kitty.

[Kitty]

A long time since I've heard of a feud around Dodge.

[Matt Dillon]

This one kind of got transplanted from the Ozarks.

[Kitty]

The Ozarks? And it's a wonder that crazy Joff Monger isn't mixed up in it.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, it's Joff I'm looking for.

[Kitty]

I bet your dollar's right out back, Mac.

[Matt Dillon]

Out back?

[Kitty]

Yeah, he's out there. Every Saturday night he comes in and buys a bottle of corn from Sam and takes it out back and drinks it. Sits there all alone with his long rifle in one hand and his bottle in the other. Nobody knows what he's thinking.

[Matt Dillon]

No wonder I never see him.

[Narrator]

Ronnie Kelly just told me.

[Matt Dillon]

Chester, go out and see if he's there.

[Andrew Rines]

I'll bring him in.

[Narrator]

Will you, Esther?

[Kitty]

Who?

[Narrator]

Josh?

[Kitty]

Feudin With Max.

[Matt Dillon]

Man called Eben Hakes.

[Kitty]

He from the Ozarks, too?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, he arrived today on foot.

[Kitty]

On foot?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, he's all legs. Kidding. A real traveling man.

[Kitty]

Hey, I'd like to see him.

[Matt Dillon]

Got a face like a hatchet and he's built like a piece of wire.

[Kitty]

Well, now, Betty carries a long rifle, too.

[Narrator]

He does?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Here he is, Mr. John. I made him leave his rifle with Sam.

[Matt Dillon]

Hello, Jud.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Say what you want, Marshall. I don't care to be cooped up inside here very long.

[Matt Dillon]

Eben Hicks is looking for you, Jeff.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Of course he is. Mongers in the Hakes been looking for each other nigh under 40 years.

[Narrator]

And most all got found, too.

[Matt Dillon]

You been drinking, Jeff?

[Narrator]

Missus won't allow no drinking on the place, Marshall. So I gotta come to town every Saturday.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Joss Monger, get out of the way.

[Narrator]

Kidding?

[Kitty]

Yeah, sure will.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I got you caught like a bear up a tree, Joss.

[Matt Dillon]

Put that rifle down, Higgs.

[Chester Proudfoot]

He's gonna kill me, and I ain't got my weapon.

[Matt Dillon]

Put it down, I said.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You're standing in the way, peace officer.

[Matt Dillon]

And I'm gonna stay here.

[Chester Proudfoot]

And I'll have to shoot you first.

[Matt Dillon]

You're not going to shoot anybody.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Of course I am. That's What I come for, ain't it?

[Matt Dillon]

I'll try it.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Hold on a minute, everybody. Hey, what you. I just thought of something. I wish all you folks had stopped meddling in this. Yeah, but it's after midnight, Hanks.

[Narrator]

What?

[Chester Proudfoot]

It's of a Sunday. Sunday?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah, that's right, Hicks.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, well, of all the dog blame luck. Well, quit looking so troubled, Jaws. I won't shoot no man on Sunday. Evening Monger. You come awful close to it, even. It's a doggone shame it took me so long to find you today. You traveled a long way, even. I know. But I got tired waiting for you to come back home.

[Narrator]

Josh, I was coming. I was coming this summer.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I know. Your old lady told me about it today. I seen her scratching around doing chores. That ain't much of a place you got, John. Oh, Bella can make a crop here sometimes even. But it's a hard fight with a short stick. I didn't see no hogs out there. Where at your hogs, Joss?

[Narrator]

I'm getting some come spring.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Eden, how is things back home? Well, there's been a lot of changes since you left, Eden. I got me a little jug out back. It's most empty now, but we could maybe buy another one set out there on the stoop for a spell and kind of get soured on the cob.

[Narrator]

What say you?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Might as well. We can't do no shooting till Monday. Where at do we buy this jug? I'll show you. Sell over here.

[Kitty]

Sells it?

[Chester Proudfoot]

You'll have to give me the lowness and money, Josh. I didn't bring that with me this week. Well, if they don't meet all.

[Narrator]

Mr. Milan. Yeah. Looks to me like they're going to.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Call their feud off.

[Matt Dillon]

No, not them, Chester. Midnight tomorrow, they'll be stalking each other all over again.

[Chester Proudfoot]

How are you going to stalk them?

[Matt Dillon]

Well, I'll let them enjoy themselves tonight. But tomorrow I'm going to throw them both in jail. And they're gonna stay there till they learn something more than futile.

[Narrator]

Get the pictures. And we do mean motion pictures. This is your chance to attend school within your assigned area. How? By enrolling in a USAFI telecourse. If you are taking a USAFI correspondence course, you may also be able to attend a classroom on film which will give you additional instruction on the same subject. Although primarily prepared for showing in areas which are serviced by Armed Forces Television, these telecourses can also be shown in any other area which has a standard 16 millimeter projector. The filmed courses each come in A series of from 12 to 20 half hour films and are conducted by well qualified high school and college teachers.

[Matt Dillon]

At the present time the number of.

[Narrator]

Courses is limited so if you are interested in studying by this method, see your education officer for information and details. Then enroll with USAFI and let a telecourse be your guide.

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[Matt Dillon]

I wasn't sure that jail would teach Jonathan even a thing. But I still couldn't let him run loose and shoot each other down. So the next morning Chester and I went looking for him. We found where they built a small fire out back of the long branch and we found a number of empty bottles. But that was all. We searched the town till noon with no luck. And then I decided to ride out to the Monger place and see if by any chance Joff had returned. There's nobody in sight when we got there. So we dismounted and walked up to the door.

[Chester Proudfoot]

They smoke coming out the chimney, Mr. June.

[Matt Dillon]

That doesn't mean jots here.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh no sir.

[Matt Dillon]

Afternoon.

[Kitty]

Just go away, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Now wait a minute, Ms. Mongrel.

[Kitty]

You don't want to get shocked, you do what I say.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Friendly, ain't she? Yeah, but she didn't have no gun. Must be Joff is in there.

[Narrator]

Probably.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well Tiz, why would he want to shoot you?

[Matt Dillon]

There's one reason I can think of.

[Chester Proudfoot]

You mean he went and killed even Hakes?

[Matt Dillon]

I don't know Chester, but I'm sure going to find out.

[Chester Proudfoot]

They ain't going to open it none.

[Matt Dillon]

There's a window around at the side.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Ain't very Clean wind.

[Narrator]

It'll do. Now.

[Matt Dillon]

Let me take a look. Well, I'll be.

[Chester Proudfoot]

What?

[Narrator]

What is it?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Mr. Jones?

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Matt Dillon]

Have a look for yourself.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, they're eating dinner. All three of them?

[Matt Dillon]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

Come on.

[Matt Dillon]

I want to talk to the men.

[Narrator]

Ms. Munger.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm coming in.

[Narrator]

Y.

[Andrew Rines]

All right.

[Matt Dillon]

Stay away from those rifles.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Busted in. He busted right past the woman. I never heard of a man coming in another man's house that way.

[Kitty]

He had any upbringing? He wasn't a.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Is this the kind of people they got in Kansas? Joke. First I seen of it.

[Matt Dillon]

Never mind about that, Jeff. Why did your wife threaten? Threatened to shoot me. What's going on here anyway?

[Kitty]

You hadn't come to put him in jail. You wouldn't get shot, Marshall.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, how did you know I was going to put him in jail?

[Kitty]

Eden says you told him he was.

[Matt Dillon]

That's right, I did. If he killed anybody.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I ain't killed nobody. Feuds off.

[Narrator]

We stopped it, huh?

[Matt Dillon]

You stopped it?

[Narrator]

Sure.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Last night. We got to talking a little about old times and everything. You know what we found out?

[Narrator]

What you tell him, even?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Well, peace officer, this here feud started a long time ago. What happened was my grandpa stole Josh's grandpa's girl, married up with her. So Josh's grandpa declared a feud right then and there.

[Narrator]

But you ain't told him what we.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Found out yet, Eden.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Oh, well, we hadn't thought of that before, Peace officer. Well, last night we was thinking, if my grandpa hadn't done that, then Jaws here would have been me.

[Matt Dillon]

Why?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Don't you see? Otherwise, my grandma would have married up with Jaw's grandpa and I to be in Joss. So any way you look at it, we're kind of related. Like. Anyway, you looked at it last night. You mean I seen all them empty bottles?

[Matt Dillon]

It doesn't matter, Chester. As long as the field is off.

[Chester Proudfoot]

It ain't only off. Eden's gonna stay on here with us.

[Narrator]

We're gonna work this place together.

[Chester Proudfoot]

I'm gonna give my share in it come Christmas.

[Matt Dillon]

Come Christmas?

[Chester Proudfoot]

Why came fire off January 6th? Just when did Christmas get to be January 6th?

[Kitty]

You knew anything, you'd know that, I.

[Narrator]

Swear I'm getting to know less and less.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Man, you folks don't understand. Back in the Ozarks, we do our Christmas celebrating 12 days from when you do.

[Matt Dillon]

Oh, you're talking about Twelfth Night.

[Chester Proudfoot]

We call it Christmas, too.

[Kitty]

If you only knew, Marshall. It works just fine for us.

[Matt Dillon]

There's no reason why I shouldn't, ma'.

[Narrator]

Am.

[Matt Dillon]

It's A real good old custom.

[Chester Proudfoot]

Say now maybe you and Chester come out and celebrate with us.

[Kitty]

Well, they don't mind crap and sour pickles and cornbread and coffee.

[Chester Proudfoot]

They'll come. Well now woman, ain't there gonna be no chitlins?

[Kitty]

If you had mask, I was keeping them for a surprise.

[Matt Dillon]

Ms. Monger, chitlins or no chitlins, I'd be proud to come.

[Narrator]

Me too.

[Matt Dillon]

Well, we'll leave you to your dinner now and see you all Twelfth Night.

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[Narrator]

Gun Smoke produced and directed by Norman McDonald, stars William Conrad as Matt Dillon, U.S. marshal. The story was specially written for Gunsmoke by John Meston. Featured in the cast were John, Dana, Virginia, Greg and Vic Parron. Harley Bear is Chester, Howard McNair is Doc and Georgia Ellis is Kitty. Join us again next week for another story of the Western frontier when Matt Dillon, Chester Proudfoot, Doc and Kitty, together with all the other hard living citizens of Dodge will be with you once more. It's America growing west in the 1870s. It's gun smoke.

[Matt Dillon]

Gun Smoke has come to you through.

[Narrator]

The worldwide facilities of the United States Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Sa.

[Andrew Rines]

Foreign. This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate our shows in your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube and send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com you can call and leave us a voicemail 707-986-8739. This episode is copyright under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Like Copyright for more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.

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[Kitty]

This holiday season, reach for the one butter that never disappoints. Kerrygold. Made with milk from grass fed cows on Irish family farms, it's rich, creamy and perfect for baking. Whether browning butter for cookies or crafting the flakiest pie crust, Kerrygold's high butterfat content makes all the difference in flavor and texture. Holiday treats will taste extraordinary.